solter



2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. SOLTERQ I Can Soldering Machine.

Patented Feb. 22.1881.

JUHN EULTER- Attomsy.

JLPEI'ERS, PHOIO LHfNOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEreE.

' JOHN SOLTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEO. L.KEEBS, OF SAME PLACE.

CAN-SOLDERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,174, dated February2-2, 1881.

Application filed January 3, 1381. (No model.)

certain new and useful Improvements in Can- Soldering Machines; and Ihereby declare the same to'be fully, clearly, and exactly described asfollows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure l is a plan view of the machine; Fig. 2, a side elevation of apart of the same, partly in sectional view; and Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of one of the dies.

My invention has reference to machines for soldering the side orlongitudinal seam of ordinary provision-cans; and it consists,generically, in the combination, in a machine of that class, of a devicefor gaging the diameters of the cans with a series of clamps revolvingabout a fixed axis and arranged to be brought seriatim to a position inwhich they secure the overlapping edges of the wall-blanks of the cans.

Specifically my invention consists in certain details of constructionand combinations of parts, as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A is a table or support, to which issecured an upright, B, about whichrevolves a table or frame, B, carryinga number of clamps. Near the edge of the table are pivoted, in bearings11, a series of levers, G, carrying on their inner ends revolving disks0. To the outer arms, 6, of the le vers O are secured, ate, theclamping-plates d, arranged to descend upon the plates or bars E,

that are bolted to the under side of the table and project therefrombelow the plates d. The inner ends of the levers G are normally thrownupward by springs c.

D is a segment, secured to the center post, D, and having beveled edges,as shown. It is so arranged that as the table B revolves the rollers ordisks 0 pass under it, whereby the inner ends of the levers aredepressed and the clamps are released. The post D is movable within thesupport B, and is actuated by a lever, z, secured to'its lower end.

To the table A is bolted the gaging device, consisting of a frame, J,having bearings G G, in which reciprocate the shafts g g, having dies FF. The construction of the dies is clearly shown in Fig. 3. They areeach provided with a slot, f, and an annular depression, j, which isaccurately of the size of the can to be soldered.

H Hare levers, which pass through slots in the shafts g g and arepivoted in the frame J. Their lower ends are attached to arms I I, whichare connected together and attached to a bar, 0, which reciprocatesvertically in guides O. The lower end of the bar 0 is connected by meansof a rod or wire, at, with a treadle, I. A spring, N, is attached to thedevicein such manner that its effect is to cause the dies to approacheach other. It is shown as connecting the junction of the bars lwith thetable A; but it may be otherwise arranged-as, for instance, coiled aboutthe rodo, and having its bearings between the lower bar of the guides Oand a collar or pin on the rod; or it might be under the treadle orcoiled around the shaft g, between the lever H and outer guide, G.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The can-blanks, being cut tothe desired size, are passed under rollers, whereby they are bent intocylindrical shape. Oneoperator depresses the treadle I, causing the diesF F to separate, and the table B is made to revolve, bringing one of theclamps between the dies. The cylinderis then placed between the dieswith its lapped joint uppermost and above the plate E. The treadle isthen released, when the dies approach each other, and the ends of thecylinder enter the grooves f, whereby the can is accurately gaged to thedesired size. Theoperator then throws the lever d to the right,releasing the lever O, and the plated descends and clamps the joint. Thetreadle I is again depressed, retracting the dies F, and a second clampis brought between them to secure a second can, and so on. Meanwhileanother operator on the opposite side of the table B throws a littlepowdered rosin on the clamped seam, applies a drop of solder, and runs aheated iron quickly along the seam, securing it. The soldered cans areautomatically thrown olf into a basket as soon as the clamps arereleased by means of the segment D. This is effected through the mediumof the bent leverp 10, which is pivoted upon a standard, 1?, at the sideof the machine. A spring or weight, p, serves to hold the lever normallyin the position shown in Fig. 1, and a series of pins, r, is secured tothe under side of the table B, which pins strike the arm 19 as the tablerevolves, and cause the other arm, 19, to throw the can off from thehorn or plate E, and allow it to fall into a suitable receptacle.

It will be seen that most important ends are attained by the use of themachine. The cans are quickly and accurately gaged to a predeterminedsize, greatly facilitating the attachment of the heads, and are seizedby a clamp as soon as gaged and presented in front of the operator whosolders the seam. No time is lost at any stage of the progress, as thelever t is knocked aside by the knee or hand of the operator whilereaching for the next can-blank, and the clamp instantly descends. Thelower clamping-plate, E, being on the same level as the upper edge ofthe groove f, the adjustment of the can-blank to the groove isfacilitated thereby, as a vertical displacement of the blank isimpossible while its lapped joint is resting on the plate E.

The object of actuating the shafts g by the regular mechanismdescribednamely, the levers H, rods 1, treadle I, and rod 0is to insurea positive and predetermined motion of each die with reference to theframe J, which, with the described construction of the machine, is apractical necessity, as the dies must move I apart to admit of theentrance between them of the clamping-plates E.

Other mechanism may easily be imagined which will accomplish the sameend-as, for instance, a rack attached to each shaft and driven by apinion journaled in the frame J and actuated by a crank or treadle. Thedescribed arrangement is, however, believed to be the. simplest andbest.

I say above that with the described construction of the machine apositive motion of each die with reference to the frame J is a practicalnecessity; but I do not wish to be understood as limiting my inventionto a machine of the precise described construction, as modifications notnecessarily involving such positive motion at once suggest themselves.

It is obvious that a positive motion of both dies with reference tothe'clamp will answer the desired end, and this might be readilyattained by sliding the frame J bodily toward the clamp, while one dieonly is made to move in the opposite direction.

What I claim is-- 1. In a can-soldering machine, the combination,substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a gaging device adapted tosimultaneously gage both ends of the can-body, with a series of clampingdevices revolving about a pivot or axis and arranged to be broughtseriatim to the gaging device and clamp the gaged can-blank forsoldering, as set forth.

2. In a can soldering machine, a pair of grooved dies, in combinationwith a series of clamps arranged to revolve about an axis at rightangles to the axis of the dies and to clamp the can-blank for soldering,as set forth.

3. In a can-soldering machine, a pair of grooved dies arranged toapproach each other and gage the can-blank, in combination with a tableor frame carrying a number of clamping devices and revolving about anaxis at right angles to that of the dies, as set forth.

4. In combination with a pair of grooved dies, each arranged to approachthe other, a series of clamping-plates arranged to revolve about an axisat right angles to that of the dies, and to be brought to a positionbetween the dies, with their clamping-faces on a line with the groovesin the dies, and a second series of clamping-plates arranged to descendupon the first and secure the can-seam, as set forth.

5. In combination with the reciprocating dies and revolving table, thelower clampingplates arranged to come between the dies while the latterare separated, and the upper clamping-plates carried on the ends ofpivoted levers, the inner ends of which are automatically depressed asthe clamps approach the dies, whereby the soldered cans are released andthe clamps are opened to receive the blanks to be gaged and soldered, asset forth.

6. In combination with the gaging-dies, the revolving table carrying theclamping-plates and pivoted levers, and mechanism, substantially asdescribed, for depressing the inner ends of the levers as the outer endsapproach the dies, as set forth.

7. In combination with the clamping device, the grooved and slotted diesmounted upon shafts that reciprocate within suitable bearings, andmechanism for imparting to each die a positive and predetermined motiontoward the other, as set forth.

8. In combination with the clamp, the grooved and slotted dies mountedupon shafts that reciprocate within suitable bearings, the levers H,connected arms l, and treadle, as set forth.

9. In combination with the clamp, the dies F, levers H, arms I, treadleI, and rod 0, arranged to move in a rightline in the bearings O, as setforth.

10. In combination with the gaging device, the revolving table havinglevers O, clampingplates (1E, segment D, and lever 2', as set forth.

11. In combination with the gagingdevice, the revolving table havinglevers O, clampingplates 01 E, segment D, and mechanism for antomatically removing the soldered cans as the clamps are released, as set forth.

JOHN SOLTER. Witnesses:

R. D. WrLLIAMs, GEO. L. KREBS.

